M. Veronica Pravata
@mveronicapravata.bsky.social
HFSP postdoctoral fellow in Silvia Cappello Lab - Biomedical Center LMU (Munich, DE) 🇮🇹🏴🇩🇪 Interested in the role of PTMs in Brain Development and Evo-Devo 🧬🧠
🏳️🌈 #PrideMonth: we're highlighting research led by ERC grantee Kath Browne @ucddublin.bsky.social, exploring perspectives on social change around sexual and gender rights, with a focus on understanding polarisation and fostering dialogue. 🎥 @kathbrowne.bsky.social
Very insipring work from Magdalena Gotz lab - Nuclear proteome reveals microtubule-associated protein regulating fate and disease: Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Nuclear proteome reveals microtubule-associated protein regulating fate and disease
Nuclear and cytoplasmic proteomics uncover a nuclear pool of cytoskeletal proteins, including MAP1B, whose shuttling to the nucleus increases BRG1/BAF chromatin association and regulates brain develop...
cell.com
Thrilled to shared our new preprint with @djabaudon.bsky.social ! Led by Ilaria Morassut, we explored "the extent to which early brain maturation requires interactions with the outside world". This wouldn't have been possible without our incredible collaborators, specially the @lanevol.bsky.social 🧵
“Comparative analysis of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum” Very valuable resource, by @konopkalab.bsky.social @sonjavernes.bsky.social and collaborators (interesting specificity observed in bats and key primate/non-primate differences) 🧪🧠🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Comparative analysis of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum - Nature Communications
Comparative analyses of striatal cell types across humans, bats and other mammals can reveal how cellular diversity contributes to evolutionary differences in brain function. Here, using snRNA sequenc...
nature.com
Glycan Atlassing is online at @natnano.nature.com! Thanks to everyone involved, especially to @dijo-mj.bsky.social and @nazlicanyurekli.bsky.social who spearheaded the work. Read the paper here: dlvr.it/TSXNDb #Glycotime
Glycan atlassing enables functional tracing of cell state - Nature Nanotechnology
Multiplexed super-resolution microscopy of DNA-barcoded lectins and metabolically incorporated unnatural sugars quantitatively links the nanoscale spatial relationships of glycocalyx organization and ...
dlvr.it
Nazlican Yürekli@nazlicanyurekli.bsky.social · 3mo agoThrilled to announce that our paper on Glycan Atlassing is officially published in Nature Nanotechnology!🧬🍭 We developed "Glycan Atlassing," a method to map the glycocaly at nanometer resolution. This allows us to trace cellular states and opens new avenues for diagnostics and therapy..
Great paper on developmental gene expression patterns underlying species-specific cortical features (with a nice combination of tools and datasets) By @itsmeawais.bsky.social @estherkli.bsky.social @djabaudon.bsky.social @silvianeuro.bsky.social @mveronicapravata.bsky.social and colleagues 🧪🧠🧬
Developmental gene expression patterns driving species-specific cortical features - Nature
Machine learning analysis of cell-type-specific gene expression in mouse and human neocortex and human cortical organoids reveals human-specific cell-type and temporal variations in expression control...
nature.com
The more we learn about #glycotime, the more dramatic will be our revisions to textbooks on such basic principles as protein trafficking and organelle privileges www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Nuclear N-glycosylation maintains H3K9me3 heterochromatin and genomic stability - Nature Cell Biology
Tang, Dai, Qing, Zhang and colleagues describe a role for N-glycosylation in the nucleus: N-glycans modify inner nuclear membrane proteins, and the modification is implicated in the maintenance of H3K...
nature.com
There are transient interactions between cellular elements in the developing brain. Proteomic data generation is now essential for ligand–receptor pair prediction & validation. We examined brain regions, of a single human 20GW brain from @HDBR, Univ Newcastle. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
A posttranslational proteomic survey of a single anatomically preserved human 20‐week postconception brain
A well-preserved 20 post-conception week human brain was obtained and finely dissected into 18 anatomically distinct regions, including the pia mater. Each region underwent in-depth proteomic analysi...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Who “belongs” in biology? The first comprehensive analysis of the LGBTQ+ climate in the biological sciences! #LGBTinSTEM #preprint 🏳️🌈 #preLight prepared by @ryanharrison13.bsky.social, Stefan & @reinierprosee.bsky.social ⬇️👀 prelights.biologists.com/highlights/l...
LGBTQ+ realities in the biological sciences - preLights
Who “belongs” in biology? Researchers conduct the first comprehensive analysis of the LGBTQ+ climate in biological sciences.
prelights.biologists.com
📢 We are pleased to announce our 4th open science summer school! #OSSS25 📌 Sept 15-19, Munich & Zoom 🔥 keynotes and outstanding hands-on workshops 2️⃣ dual-track: open science training and instructor training tracks! ➡️ apply before July 14 or register anytime for the public lectures!
LMU Open Science Center Summer School 2025
programme and application process
lmu-osc.github.io
Our latest "Dynamic Landscape Analysis of Cell Fate Decisions: Predictive Models of Neural Development From Single-Cell Data" A rigorous mathematical foundation for Waddington's landscape to study cell fate decision making Applied to ventral neural tube development www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dynamic Landscape Analysis of Cell Fate Decisions: Predictive Models of Neural Development From Single-Cell Data
Building a mechanistic understanding of cell fate decisions remains a fundamental goal of developmental biology, with implications for stem cell therapies, regenerative medicine and understanding dise...
biorxiv.org
Still openings, check it out!
Denis Jabaudon@djabaudon.bsky.social · 2y ago🧠Job Opening!🧠 We are opening 2️⃣! positions – bioinformatics / molecular biology – in a project studying how temporal patterns set up connectivity in human brain tissue. @institutimagine.bsky.social. Full details below, contact me for details if interested. And please retweet (re-bluesky?)!
Very cool @natgenet.nature.com study by @danielibrahim.bsky.social revealing hidden enhancer conservation across distant species via genome synteny 🧪🧬 Nice overview by @alexdemendoza.bsky.social: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Genome synteny reveals hidden enhancer conservation - Nature Genetics
Enhancer sequences evolve rapidly, which has led to the prevailing view that most are not functionally conserved across species. A study now challenges this assumption by leveraging interspecies point...
nature.com
Daniel Ibrahim@danielibrahim.bsky.social · last yr.How to find Evolutionary Conserved Enhancers in 2025? 🐣-🐭 Check out our paper - fresh off the press!!! We find widespread functional conservation of enhancers in absence of sequence homology Including: a bioinformatic tool to map sequence-diverged enhancers! rdcu.be/enVDN github.com/tobiaszehnde...
Check out this superb, beautiful and insightful work from @silvianeuro.bsky.social lab led by my brilliant colleague @mveronicapravata.bsky.social! What a thrill to learn about key biochemical changes across evolution contributing to drive brain formation😊 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
DCHS1 Modulates Forebrain Proportions in Modern Humans via a Glycosylation Change
Comparative anatomical studies of primates and extinct hominins, including Neanderthals, show that the modern human brain is characterised by a disproportionately enlarged neocortex relative to the st...
biorxiv.org
New preprint alert 📣 #Cerebellum, organoid, autism & brain evolution 🧪 🧫🧠🧬 Collaboration with G. Testa; fruit of years of work by smart students, led by postdoc Davide Aprile. Organoids to understand better the developmental basis of autism (focus: CHD8) & sapiens brain evolution (focus: CADPS2) 🧵
Benchmarking cerebellar organoids to model autism spectrum disorder and human brain evolution
While cortical organoids have been used to model different facets of neurodevelopmental conditions and human brain evolution, cerebellar organoids have not yet featured so prominently in the same cont...
biorxiv.org
Excellent work from @silvianeuro.bsky.social lab on DCHS1 ! @mveronicapravata.bsky.social congratulations! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
DCHS1 Modulates Forebrain Proportions in Modern Humans via a Glycosylation Change
Comparative anatomical studies of primates and extinct hominins, including Neanderthals, show that the modern human brain is characterised by a disproportionately enlarged neocortex relative to the st...
biorxiv.org
Excellent work from @silvianeuro.bsky.social lab, led by a brilliant young scholar, @mveronicapravata.bsky.social, on the impact of a mutation in DCHS1 distinguishing sapiens from Neandertals: shifting the ratio between cortical & striatal progenitors (Nice to see work going beyond the cortex) 🧪🧠🧬🧫
DCHS1 Modulates Forebrain Proportions in Modern Humans via a Glycosylation Change
Comparative anatomical studies of primates and extinct hominins, including Neanderthals, show that the modern human brain is characterised by a disproportionately enlarged neocortex relative to the st...
biorxiv.org
Delighted to share our new preprint, the outcome of many years of collaborative work with Giuseppe Testa’s group, both at the bench & in front of the computer, probing human brain evolution using organoids. We tried something cool, and learned a lot 🧪🧫🧠🧬 [follow 🧵] www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Regulatory logic of human cortex evolution by combinatorial perturbations
Comparative genomic studies between contemporary and extinct hominins revealed key evolutionary modifications, but their number has hampered a system level investigation of their combined roles in sca...
biorxiv.org
Why does the forebrain expand dramatically while other neural regions grow less? Our new publication reveals progenitor metabolism critically shapes region-specific brain growth. Thread below. authors.elsevier.com/a/1k-udL7PXu...
Wonderful to have the last (major) part of my postdoctoral work preprinted! Huge thanks to @ioansarr.bsky.social and @tyamadat.bsky.social—it's been a blast. Grateful to be part of the inspiring, collaborative and supportive team @kaessmannlab.bsky.social! #Cerebellum rocks! #EvoDevo #GeneRegulation
Kaessmann Lab@kaessmannlab.bsky.social · last yr.How does gene regulation shape brain evolution? Our new preprint dives into this question in the context of mammalian cerebellum development! rb.gy/dbcxjz Led by @ioansarr.bsky.social, @marisepp.bsky.social and @tyamadat.bsky.social, in collaboration with @steinaerts.bsky.social
Brilliant new preprint by @ioansarr.bsky.social @marisepp.bsky.social @tyamadat.bsky.social @steinaerts.bsky.social @kaessmannlab.bsky.social on the evolution of gene regulation in mammalian #cerebellum development 🧪🧠🧬 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The evolution of gene regulation in mammalian cerebellum development
Gene regulatory changes are considered major drivers of evolutionary innovations, including the cerebellum's expansion during human evolution, yet they remain largely unexplored. In this study, we com...
biorxiv.org
Amazing Lab, fantastic people and a stellar PI: Klingler Lab is a wonderful place for a great postdoc!!
Esther Klingler@estherkli.bsky.social · last yr.📣 Postdoc opportunity ! Our lab is hiring a funded postdoc to explore the development of fear circuits using slice electrophysiology. If you have expertise in this area and are interested about cutting-edge neuroscience, reach out ! 🤗 klinglerlab.org Please share with your network 🙏
Open positions in human developmental neuroscience, check it out!
Denis Jabaudon@djabaudon.bsky.social · 2y ago🧠Job Opening!🧠 We are opening 2️⃣! positions – bioinformatics / molecular biology – in a project studying how temporal patterns set up connectivity in human brain tissue. @institutimagine.bsky.social. Full details below, contact me for details if interested. And please retweet (re-bluesky?)!
Happy to share this new #glycotime work with collaborator Tony Wyss-Coray, led by grad student Sophia Shi, mucin loss at the BBB is associated with aging and cognitive decline, can be reversed by restoration with with gene therapy. Aging is a mucinopathy! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Glycocalyx dysregulation impairs blood–brain barrier in ageing and disease - Nature
Disruption of mucin-domain glycoprotein expression and function in the endothelial glycocalyx are associated with ageing and Alzheimer’s disease, leading to dysregulated blood–brain barrier function.
nature.com
☕️Ma et al. show that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U promotes the primed state in human #pluripotent stem cells by interacting with #NuclearMatrix protein, Matrin-3, and regulating primed-specific genes. 👉https://rdcu.be/ebq0W bit.ly/4iiVHLV
The nuclear matrix stabilizes primed-specific genes in human pluripotent stem cells - Nature Cell Biology
Ma et al. show that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U promotes the primed state in human pluripotent stem cells by interacting with nuclear matrix protein, Matrin-3, and regulating primed-spec...
bit.ly
I often see misunderstandings & confusion (in media but also scientific literature) over what studies of the FOXP2 gene can & cannot tell us about human evolution. Here's a short commentary I wrote a few years ago for @currentbiology.bsky.social with aim of clarifying for a general readership. 🧬🗣️🧪
Human Genetics: The Evolving Story of FOXP2
FOXP2 mutations cause a speech and language disorder, raising interest in potential roles of this gene in human evolution. A new study re-evaluates genomic variation at the human FOXP2 locus but finds...
cell.com
Beautiful new work by @itsmeawais.bsky.social @estherkli.bsky.social @djabaudon.bsky.social @silvianeuro.bsky.social @mveronicapravata.bsky.social & L. Gomez, probing evolutionary changes in the developmental expression of shared genes, focusing on the cortex. Key role for JUNB in human 🧠 👇🧬🧫🧪
Esther Klingler@estherkli.bsky.social · last yr.✨ We tend to think of species-specific differences as resulting from the presence of species-specific genes. In our latest work with @djabaudon.bsky.social, we show that building brains is not only about which genes you use, but also about when and where you do. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🚀 Excited to share our latest work uncovering TGIF2 as a key transcription factor (TF) safeguarding neural stem cell (NSC) fate and regulating neurogenic priming! 🧠 🔗 biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.13.635953v1 Here’s how we found it and why it’s important!🧵👇
TGIF2 is a major regulator of neural stem cell fate and neurogenic priming
During brain development, neural stem cells (NSCs) must balance self-renewal with differentiation and ensure lineage progression. To identify novel regulators of NSCs during neurogenesis, we isolated ...
biorxiv.org
